Channel NewsAsia 24 Jun 08;
SINGAPORE: The Health Promotion Board (HPB) plans to form a 'Healthy City' network to address health, social and environmental issues that arise from rapid urbanisation.
This network will comprise the five community development councils, government agencies and community groups.
Urban lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, cancer and stroke account for 60 percent of the total deaths in Singapore.
HPB wants to tackle these risk factors by collaborating with the network's partners and the Alliance for Healthy Cities.
The Alliance – which HPB has just joined – is a network of 88 cities and institutions that was formed by the World Health Organisation in 2003.
On the sidelines of the World Cities Summit on Monday, Alliance members met to share their strategies and to learn from one another. Issues discussed included housing, sanitation, congestion and pollution.
Amy Khor, South West District Mayor, said: "We have got a number of programmes to address these concerns and issues in terms of personal health and hygiene, as well as public health threats.
"What we do here is really to encourage all the stakeholders, whether they're tenants, building owners, occupants or residents themselves, to have a litter-free environment."- CNA/so
